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W. H. BOWLING.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATRON FILED MAME. ma;

1 ,3 1 1,41 8. Patented July 29, 1919.

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E MBIA I'LANOGRAPH 60.. WASHINGTON n L.

w. H. BOWLING. I TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY28. I918.

Patented July 29, 1919.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

i i Memes J0 V lL BLE my UNITED sTAT s PATENT oE-EIo WILLIAM I-I.RowLIIver; or OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

TRAFFIC-SIGNAL ron MOTOR-VEHICLES.

i To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H; BOWLING, citizen of the United States,residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda. and; State of California,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traffic- Signalsfor Motor-Vehicles, ofwhich the fOllOWing is a specification. 7

This invention relates to an traffic signal for motor vehicles and hasas its primarytobject to provide a construction employing companionsignaling devices which'may be connected to 'thefframe of the windshieldof thevehicle or other convenient points thereon and adapted to bemanually operated for indicating'an intenti'onof the driver toturneitherto the right or left or an intention to stop. 7 V The invent'ionhas as afurther object to provide signaling devices each employing a semaphoreblade and wherein thesaid blade may be readily swung toea'ctiveor'inactive position to be automatically locked in each of suchpositions.'-

And the invention' has as a still further object'to provide aconstruction wherein the semaphore blade of each ofthe signaling devicesmay be illuminated so that the'said blades may be. easily observed atnightand similar reference characters designate cor responding partsthroughout the several views:

. Figure 1 is afragmentary elevation showing my improved signal appliedto the wind shield of a conventional typeof motor vehicle, the semaphoreblades of the signaling devices'being illustrated in inactive position,

Fig. 2 is a view similar toFig. land showing the semaphore blade of'o-neof the signaling devices in activeposition,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary,- plan view more particularly illustratingthemounting ofthe semaphore blades oflthe signaling devices,vthe frameof the wind shield being shown in SQCUOII, I V 7' 5 -Fig.- 41s afragmentary perspective view improved -.S pecification of LettersPatent. Patented July 29,1919. Application filed May 28, 1918. Seriala... 237,019. I

showing the female bearing plate eaeh In order that theconstruction,operation and mounting of my improved signal may be accuratelyImderstood', I have, in the drawingsQshoWn thesignal in connection w1ththe wind sh eld 10 of 'a conventional of which is shown at 11; As isusual, the wind shield 10 is formed with a frame 12. In carrying outtheinvention, I employ companlon signaling devices indicated as a wholeat 13'and 1-1 respectively. Since these devices are identical inconstruction, only one will be described in detail, the device 13'being-shown. However, the reference numerals will be duplicated-uponboth of the said devices; The signaling 'device, 13 includes asupporting bracket. comprising'a preferably tubular arm 15 to the innerex? tremity of which are connected 'm'ating clamping members 15adjustable toeng'age showing the male '75 type of motor vehicle, aportion of the body with the frame 12 of'the wind shield forsupportin'gthe arm to project laterally at one side'thereoffi Mountedup'onthe outer extremityofsthe arm 15 to seat against its rear side is'a bearing plate or dislcl'e secured to'the said arm by spaced U-bolts17.

This plate is, as preferably shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, providedwithsubstantially V-shaped grooves 18 arranged at right angles to eachother. Overlying the plate 16 to coacttherewith is a second .bearing'plate or disk 19. This plate is formed with diametrio ribs 20 arrangedat' substantially right angles to each other andadapted to engage withinthe grooves 18 of the disk 16 'so' that the said plates normally "seatflat against each other. Formedon the plate 19 at one side thereof is aradial wingQl and riveted or'otherwise secured to this wing'is asuitable semaphore blade 22. Tlie blade preferably formedof suitablesheet metal 22 is preferably-given-a coating-'o-fpaint or enamel tofurnish a red background-forthe' representation of an .a arrows.imprinted upon the side faces of the blade. Extending radially from theplate 19 :at th'e side-thereof opposite the wing 21 and disposed at an"angle; to the 1 said? Wing iris a lever arm- 23 which, at its outerextremityis, ofl'. set away, from the bracket arm 15 Doosely fittedthroughithe outer extremity of the bracket arm to extend axiallythroughthebearing. plates 16 and 1911s a ivot rod '245rotatablysupporting the latter bea ring pla.tei, Formed on the rod to abut thearm15 is a stop shoulder 25 and -connecting the said ,rodwith the armisv a nut 26 adjustable for rigidly clamp. ing: therod in position...Mounted upon: the outer extremity of' therod'to confront the bearingplate 19 is a concave convexgrefiectorl' 27 "open at its outerendr This,reflector is and is provided at .its inner; extremity with. a.laterally, proj ectingrlug 28 looselyr fitted upon the rod 24:.Threaded;upon:;the.adja= cent extremity of therod is. a :11ut 29 andinterposed between this nut and the. lug; 28

of the: reflector isq'a. helicalispring. 30 sur.-"

rounding. therod. T1ius,.it.wilI- be:- seen that this spring; will holdithesrefl'ector in position tightly clamped against the. bearing plate:19.' and will also act to .yieldably hold' this bearing plate againstthe bearing plate- 16 to coact therewith. The. tension .of-Ithe springmay beregulated by adj ustingthe nut 29.. Threaded upontheouterIextremity of the .rodgto seat.. against thenut 29 is acan sleeve 31formed 'at its outertend into a split socket. 32 andadjustable withinthis socket isthe ball l 3310f? a mirror bracket 34 carry.- ing amirroror. reflector 35 Threaded through. the socket to engage the ball '33 forholdingthe 'mirror; atIadjustment is as par ticularly shown -in Fig. 3!.of-ithe. drawings, asetscrew35l Itwill thus be seen thatthe mirror. willbe supported 1 at the! outerv end of the rodi2d T in .such. positionthatit. may beeasily' adj ustedwith respect to thedrivefls seat-of thevehicle for reflecting. any tra-ffic approachingfrom the rear ofthe-vehicle.

' Rotatably mounted in. anyapproved m ner upon the instrument board .ofthe. vehi cle and. extending. freely. tlfroughthervehicle cowl fat ztheadjacent side thereof is shaft 36" provided at its. outer end"v withacrank 37 connected J with, the free end of the. lever arm 23by a link38'. Eormed'l on :theihner end of the said shaft is. an operating crank39' and in this. connection it will be observed that-the operatingcranks of bothflof the sig: nalingdevices confront each}. other"centrally of the instrument board o f 'the vehicle so accessibleafromthe driverb'seat.

Formed 0ntheperiphery of he bearing plate 16 are spacedradial stop lugs40 and sear AVAILABLE COPY wardlyi'therefronr over tlre edge of theplate 16 is a stop arm 42 adapted to selectively cooperate with thesaidlugs.

As will now be clear, the operating crank of the sign-aling device 13may, bexreadily grasped bythe driver of the vehiclefor r0- tating thebearing'plate 19 of this signaling device upon the bearing plate 16thereof-rand consequently swinging the semaphore blade 22. of. the.device: from. normal I inactive position. as. shown in' Fig...1 tohorizontal active position,;.as. shown.. F 2... WVhen' the semaphore;blade. is ,thus swung. upwardly theiribs 2O of 'the bearing,plate 19will be; caused to ride out oflthe. grooves 18 of'the plate. 16..and,when. the semaphore blade reaches its active. position, will then be.caused by. the spring. 30 to again engage; within. the. saidf groovesfor locking; the semaphorebl-adeiinsuch position. VVhens0 disposed ithis signaling. dvicefwill then in. dicate an intention, of' the driverto turn to the le-ft,'.andf it illb e seen tlfatfu-p'ward movement, ofthe semaphore blade will be limitedby the engagementoffthe stop arm 42ofthe bearingplate l9'fwith 'thestop l'O' of the :bearingplate 16. sothattlie'saidblade thus can notv be swung beyond its-active po sition.Reverse movement of: the operating crank'of the signaling device will,of *course, again swing the semaphore blade down wardly to inactiveposition to'be locked. in such position by the engagementofthe ribs20of'the bearing plate '19; in the glf0oves -18 of the bearing plate 16.Downward move= ment ofthe semaphore blade will be limited by theengagement of the stop arm42 with' the stop 4.1 so th'at'the saidIbl-adethusCan not' be swung. beyond I itsv inactive position. In like mannerthe operating'cran'kofthe signaling device 14 may be actuated forswinging. the semaphore blade of this device upwardlyto a'ctive positionforindica'ting an intention of thedriver to turn to the right; The blade.ofthe signaling devicel l will, of course," be. lockedin itsla'ctive;and

inactive positions in the manner'described I a signalwhichmay beeasilyoperatedfrom V the drivers. seat forindicating an intention ofthe driverto turn'either'to the right-or left or anintention'to stop; Thereflectors 1 25 v 27 r of the signal-ingdevices are adapted to support'suitable" lamp sockets therein and that both of the said-cranks will'beeasily semaphore blades of the said devices will be illuminated by thesaid lamps. The inner sides and outer ends of the reflectors being open,light from the said lamps will be reflected along the semaphore bladesso that the arrows thereon will be easily discernible.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A trafiic signal for motor vehicles including a supporting brackethaving an arm,

a bearing plate fixed against one side of the arm, a rod engaged withthe arm and extending through said plate, the rod locking the plateagainst movement about the arm, a second bearing plate rotatablysupported by the rod, a signal arm carried by the sec ond plate, meansfor adjustably rotating the second plate to swing the signal arm, andcoacting means between the plates for locking the second plate inadjusted position.

2. A traffic signal for motor vehicles including a supporting bracket,coacting bearing plates carried thereby, one of said plates being fixedand the other of the plates being rotatable upon the bracket, a signalarm carried by the second plate, means for adjustably rotating thesecond plate to swing the arm, coacting means between the bearing platesfor locking the second plate in adjusted position, spaced stop lugs projecting from the periphery of the first plate, and a stop arm carried bythe second plate and projecting across the first plate to selectivelycooperate with said lugs for limiting the second plate in adjustedposition in its swinging movement.

3. A traffic signal for motor vehicles including a supporting brackethaving an arm, a bearing plate rested against one side of the arm,U-bolts extending around the arm and connecting the plate therewith, a

rod-extending through the plate and arm,

said rod being fixed to the arm and locking the plate against movementabout the arm, a second bearing plate rotatable upon the rod, means forrotating the second plate, and a signal arm carried by the second plate.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM H. BOWLING. [n 3.

Copies 01' this patent msy be obtained tor five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Iatents,

Washington, D. 0. i

